The petition was set up by Michael Grieve, and a statement on the petition website calls the routes "vital lifelines".

The removal of the town services in Hawick and Peebles will mean that many older residents in these towns will miss out on links with other parts of the town and the wider Borders if these services are removed.

The removal of the College bus service from Hawick to Galashiels will mean that young people from Hawick may miss out on training courses at Borders College which would help improve there education and life.

The other services that are being cut will mean that those places lose their vital link and their elderly resident lose out too.